Beyond the Career Break. A Study of Professional and Managerial Women Returning to Work after Having a Child.

Hirsh, Wendy; And Others

A study was conducted of women managers and professionals in Britain who had taken a "career break"--from a few weeks to many years--to have a baby. The study sought to examine the decision to return to work after having a child, and whether the practical management of breaks could be improved; to discover the career patterns of women returning from a break in the period since their return; and to look at how returners feel about combining work and family life and what practical issues are of most concern to them. The results of the study were based on questionnaires completed in the summer of 1991 by 785 women (of 1,651 surveyed) who were working for 45 different employers. Some of the results of the study were as follows: (1) most of the women had taken only one break, at about age 30, and most had returned to full-time employment, although a significant percentage had worked part time at some time or were doing so at the time of the survey: (2) the women were mildly positive about most aspects of their breaks; (3) childcare concerns and the desire for time off when childcare arrangements break down were the most frequent concerns of the women; (4) one-third of the women had been promoted since returning to work; (5) most of the women wanted flexible hours and many had such arrangements; many also wanted to work part time but would not do so because of perceived damage to their careers; (6) the respondents were generally positive about access to training and development, did not feel isolated, and thought attitudes toward working mothers were improving; and (7) the stress of combining work with family life emerged as the most negative aspect of their experience. (The document includes 42 appendixes that contain the questionnaire and analyses of study data. The report contains 18 references.) (KC)